Category: France
Off the beaten path in Paris on Ile St-Louis.
The Seine runs through Paris, dividing the city into the Left and Right Banks. The larger of the two islands in the river, the Ile de la Cité packs a lot of sightseeing bang, -- including Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame -- into a few blocks.
But it’s the other island, the Ile St-Louis, that we always return to. When the square in front of Notre Dame is packed with tourists, Ile St-Louis offers a comparatively peaceful respite about five minutes away. To reach it, walk to the back side of Notre Dame, where you’ll have great views of the magnificent buttresses. Then walk through the lime tress in the park and cross the Pont St-Louis bridge.
Read complete post
Picasso's Provence studio open for the first time.
The light in Provence is remarkable. So much so that many artists had their most productive periods while living there. Born in Aix-en-Provence, Cezanne spent most of his life there. And Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse were all inspired by the shimmering light and staggering natural beauty. Picasso too spent many summers in Provence, and lived in Vallauris, Mougins and Cannes. In 1958, at the age of 79, Picasso bought Chateau de Vauvenargues with Jacqueline, his second wife. The castle, which was extensively rebuilt in the 17th century, includes Picasso's studio, which is now open to the public for the first time.
Image Flickr: Monica Arellano-Ongpin
Read complete post
Paris's best food market -- on Boulevard de Grenelle.
No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to at least one of the city's bustling food markets.
The Sunday morning organic market on Boulevard Raspail in St-Germain between rue de Rennes and rue du Cherche-Midi attracts local chefs and celebrities. The Marche Rue de Buci is one of the easiest for visitors to explore because it's open every day but Monday and is conveniently located near other St-Germain attractions. And rue Mouffetard, in the Latin Quarter, is the place to go for freshly shucked oysters.
Read complete post